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"Band Of Brothers"
Cosmogirl Cover Story (February 2002)
By Elizabeth Kuster
Wheres Chris?
Is J.C. sthl in the bathroom?
Ugh, Justin ran off again.
At the N Sync photo shoot on an October morning, were trying to get all of the guys in one place at one time. But were at their manager Johnny Wrights house, which sits on a private lake in Orlando, and there are a lot of... distrac tions. Like outside, theres a sound system that blasts Top 40 hits to every inch of the compound, so you never miss your favorite songs while swimming, Jet Skiing, practicing put ting, or shooting some hoops. Inside, theres an arcade with games like Foosball and Ms. Pac Man (rumor has it, Johnny requests you pay a quarter even though all the video games are rigged to be free) and a one-lane bowling alley. Oh, and for those who care, shoes of all sizes are available.
So after J.C., Lance, Joey, Justin, and Chris show up (yes, its the order in which they appearedChris says nobody called to wake him up), theyre scattered all over the house playing. Justin's run off to swing his new golf club, J.C. is wandering around singing Enrique Iglesias songs ("If I could be your hero, baby!), and Joey is hanging out by the bowling alley with his baby girl, Brianna, who has huge blue eyes and two pigtails on top of her head (FYI: Lance is her godfather). And, when we finally get them all together for an outside shot, it starts raining,prompting the guys to burst into a hilarious rendition of the cheesy 70s song Raindrops Keep Fallinon My Head(hilarious because they dont know the words).Then when Family Affair by Mary J. Blige comes on, they take a quick break to dance (exactly) like her.
soul searching
But of course the chaos at the compound is nothing com pared to the real chaos going on in the world around us. Barely a month has passed since the terrorist attacks, and although N Sync seem to be the same happy-go-lucky guys we see on MTV all the time, theyre still reeling. I never thought my generation would see something this horrific, says Justin. The day of the attacks, my girl friend [ called me in tears. I told her that everybody was confused about why people would want to do this. For a good two or three weeks after that, I was just scared.
Just like it has for the rest of us, September 11 has profoundly changed the N Sync guys. Before the attacks, I used to be a hermit, says J.C. After it happened, I fell into a funky depression. But then I said, Okay, lets turn it around. Since then Ive made a conscious effort to go out and see people, instead of just calling thembe a little more social. I used to be more into being by myself.
I used to have a really bad temper, Chris says. You realize its not worth it to get upset over the fact that someone is, like, sitting in a more comfortable chair than you. (Thats good to knowbecause at this moment, his chair isnt exactly the Barcalounger Gemini!)
Not to be morbid, but theyre also now seriously thinking about their own mortality. Tomorrows not promised to you at all, says Lance. On the first Sunday of every month, I have a family reunion now. Everyone wants to see each other more often, instead of just once a year at Christmas. All of the guys also recently got new life insurance policies (which explains the sweet-but-confused-looking, white- haired doctor sitting by the vending machines, patiently waiting for Justin to go pee in a cupnew policies require physicals). And while Chris says he now has to take medica tion before he gets on flights to deal with his fear, Justin trusts fate. I dont put a judgment on where I am right now, or where Im going to be, or where I was, says Justin. I have this idea in my head that right before everyone dies, they get to a higher thought. If they get there while theyre on this earth, then their souls become subject to a higher power, and they have no need to be here any more. Thats just the positive way that I look at death.
faith vs. fame
If Justins talk of a higher power surprises you, it shouldnt: The guys have always had very strong faith in God.
Weve always prayed together before every show, says J.C. Whats surprising, though, is that theyre now pretty reluctant to talk about their spirituality. In every inter view Ive done its like, Oh, youre a rea//y spiritual per son! Justin says in a mockflippant voice. They want to know about my spirituality, and its like, Thats mine!
You have to understand that, to us, in our spirituality, says Chris, the hardest thing in this world is to just do some thing for the goodness of it. Just do it because thats something between you and God. Like, Im doing this for you, God. Not for this person, not everyone whos watching, but for You. If we give to a charity or go visit kids in a hos pital, everybody wants to televise it. Which is a good thing for the charity, because it gives them publicity, but its hard for us to really get intimate and be like, I swear to you that Im doing it out of sincerity. And the camera guy is like, Hug that little boy again. Everything we do is scrutinized. When we want that time to be alone in our beliefs, people are right there going, Are they religious? Are they good kids?
a few good men
Yeah, theyre definitely good kids, although theyre more like menif theres a draft, Justin, J.C., Lance, and Joey could be called. So, would they serve? My whole family has been in warWorld War II, Vietnam,says Lance. I have huge patriotism. If I was called today, I would totally go. I would be a great soldier. I can outsmart the enemy. Most people get too antsy when they play paintball or laser tag, but I can stand there for an hour without moving. I always wait for them to come to me. I also know how to shoot a gun. Im a good shot! Realizing this isnt the most P.C. thing in the world, he explains: Is it bad to say I go hunting? Yes, Im a hunter. Im from the South. I go up to the Mississippi Delta where my friend has a huge plantation and I stay in a log cabin with my family. I usually bird hunt. Pheasant, duck, turkey. I only hunt things that are overpopulated."
Joey breaks in: I cant shoot a gun, but I can run really fast. I can run away!" We all laugh, and then he gets serious. "Actually, I don't know what I'm capable of, because I'm not in that situation yet. But if there comes a time, I guess I'll have to learn real quickly." Chris thinks he'd rise to the challenge too, "In times of war, average guys do extraordinary things," he says. "I used to say it about is: its strange how we're five average guys, nit sometimes when we're together onstage, we almost float on air. Something kicks in. that's when great things happen, That's when wars are won- when people feel that energy working on them."
"With Chris and me, honor is a big deal,: adds Justin. "And when honor kicks in, you always make the right decision." the only one of them opposed to enlisting is J.C. "Id be a terrible soldier. Ugh! I don't believe in fighting. It's against my religion - I'm a Mennonite. But if somebody steps on me, I'm going to defend myself. If I have to."
A melting pot
That's what's cool about Nsync - they're kind of like a mini-America: a strong group made up of individuals who have their own opinions and unique skills. "our differences bring us together," says Justin. "And we capitalize on that." But there are three important things that all five guys have in common: (1) They love their country. As Joey put it, "We're so thankful for where we come from. There are places in the world where you aren't even allowed to chew gum!" [he's referring to Singapore.] (2) They love each other. "I've been quoted as saying that girls come second, and I don't there's anything wrong with that," says J.C. "I'm married to my best friends. People say its my work, but my work involves four of the closest people in my entire life." And (3) they're all taking President Bush's advice and getting back to normal. "We had a time where nobody felt right doing anything," Chris says, "because we didn't want to take away from the memory of the people who died. but now we're ready to move on. Never forget, but move on."
And that's exactly what they're all doing. As the day winds down, the guys' conversations turn to more lighthearted stuff - Chris talks about his golf game (he and Justin are totally addicted), Justin plans Britney's 20th birthday party, and J.C. goes back and forth about buying a new boat. "if there's anything good to come out of what happened,"Lance says, "lately everyone is just doing good. For the last 10 years, it was so cool to be bad. now it's cool to be good."
"Celebrity" Superlatives oh yeah - just in time for awards season ...
CG!: best sound effect?
Justin: Joey.
Lance: Joey!
Chris: Joey is a walking Foley stage - that's what they use to make sound effects in the movies.
Joey: you know, doors creaking open: Wrrrreeeeee. And closing: Errrrpfffffttt.
Chris: we didn't say they were good sound effects.
CG!: Did you ever make an inappropriate sound effect at the wrong time?
Joey: Nope.
Chris [to Joey]: yeah, you farted at the wrong time, didn't you! " 'Hey, I'm Chris,' 'I'm Lance.' 'I'm pfffft.' 'And we're N Sync!' " [Everyone laughs.]
Joey: That's my a**, ladies and gentleman.
CG!: Best mental picture of the year?
Lance: Janet Jackson naked.
CG!: You saw Janet Jackson naked?
Lance: no
J.C.: But its a mental picture!
Lance: I can see it.
CG!: No. 1 "Gee, I'm glad I have a girlfriend" moment?
Chris: Wait. when did we determine that its good to have a girlfriend? I'm trying to think of a good time. we just get suckered into it.
Justin: There are a lot, like. really scandalous girls in my past, so I'm not glad I have a girlfriend - because God knows its easier to live for one person - but I am glad that I have mine, because she's made my life wonderful. I appreciate her every day. Every moment we get alone. There's nothing in my life that's been less rehearsed than her.
Lance: J.C. dated the president's daughter.
J.C.: I did not!
CG!: Scoop!
CG! [to J.C.]: you're the only one without a girlfriend right now, right?
J.C.: Yeah. Dang! The tables have turned! I used to be the only one with a girlfriend!
Chris: It wont take long for him at all. he's very clingy. tell girls he needs a girlfriend!
CG!: okay, we're on it! (Ladies, start your engines ...)
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